Process improvement sounds like something that belongs on a factory floor – but it’s an approach that can benefit hospitals and healthcare organisations throughout the patient journey, and deliver savings of 30 per cent or more in some areas.

It starts with identifying and documenting your processes and procedures from admission to discharge with one question at the forefront of your mind: “Why?” Why is the process necessary? Why is this step needed? Why should it be done by that person rather than this one? Why do this in-house?

Substantial efficiencies can result from process improvement. For example, an overhaul of transcriptions for one large company we work with resulted in a 40 per cent cost reduction – and an increase in quality, reliability and speed. Most hospitals that perform transcriptions in-house could achieve savings of at approximately 20-40 per cent by adopting a similar solution.